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Billy Zane says the best-looking leading man is "The Godfather" himself, Marlon Brando ... which he says is an endorsement of his own A-list looks.

We caught up with the actor at LAX on Thursday and asked him about his upcoming movie "Waltzing with Brando" ... and, Billy says it was a blast to film -- and, he even stole some wardrobe from the set that he liked.

Zane says Brando sits above any star in H'wood when it comes to best-looking leading men ... wistfully saying, "What a mug" when reflecting on MB's iconic face.

Mariah The Scientist is an R&B wizard at the top of her game in her music career and love life ... she held Young Thug down during Georgia's wasteful RICO trial and they're currently having a ball!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Mariah as she was headed to link up with fellow R&B starlet Kali Uchis to shoot content for their new collab "Is It a Crime" ... which, as you can see below, came out gr-r-reat!!!

Mariah's hoping the song catches on like her last hit "Burning Blue," which was just certified Gold -- putting her "Hearts Sold Separately" album in a great position ahead of its Aug. 22 release date.

Quentin Tarantino paid homage Friday to the late actor Michael Madsen -- remembering the time Michael applauded him for firing Lawrence Tierney from "Reservoir Dogs"!

The famed director took center stage at a private memorial he hosted at L.A.'s Vista Theatre ... where he regaled the crowd with stories about his ol' pal Michael, who appeared in several of his movies, including "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill."

But it was Tarantino's story about the former film that really exemplified just who he was as a person.

Brooke Hogan knows best ... and, right now, what's best for her is getting back into music!

Sources close to Brooke tell TMZ ... after Hulk passed away last week, Brooke reconnected with her ex-boyfriend Yannique Barker -- a record producer and son of the SoBe Entertainment founder Cecile D. Barker. Yannique was the boyfriend Hulk was referring to in the infamous leaked N-word tape.

Brooke was once signed to SoBe ... and, we're told she has now re-signed to the label -- good news since she has nearly an entire album recorded.

Matty Healy's mom caught a lot of heat for her recent comments about Taylor Swift ... and, it might be getting to her -- because she was just spotted crying on a city sidewalk.

The singer-songwriter was seen hugging his mother, Denise Welch, outside a high-priced restaurant in West Hollywood on Thursday before sitting on the curb and chatting with her while she dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

The two seem deep in a difficult conversation ... with Healy appearing animated at one point while his mom was shedding tears.

Flight turbulence might have you longing to land, but it can't actually bring down an airplane ... so says pilot and reality star Pete Cappio.

We had Cappio on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and, we had to ask him about the recent incident where 25 people were hospitalized after intense turbulence threw them around the airplane cabin.

Cappio says, while this video is jarring, people shouldn't assume the whole airplane would go down because of an event like this ... 'cause planes are made to withstand even the most powerful turbulence.

Mickey Madden, the former bassist for Maroon 5, beat the crap out of his wife after she discovered he was sexting teenagers about a rape fantasy ... at least according to a domestic violence restraining order the woman filed.

In the documents, obtained by TMZ, Mickey's wife Kate Bowman claims she confronted Mickey about his alleged communications with teens and he went "insane" ... slamming her against a kitchen counter after she grabbed his phone.

Kate claims she ran out of the couple's home and Mickey chased after her, barefoot and in his underwear. She says he caught up to her and shoved her against a gate, and she says she then escaped his grasp and ran down the street, hiding between parked cars and going through his phone.

Diddy wants his conviction on 2 counts of the Mann Act overturned, and if not, he's demanding a whole new trial on those charges ... according to new docs filed late Wednesday night.

It's pretty stunning, but in the docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy and his defense team make the case for Judge Arun Subramanian changing the Mann Act conviction to an acquittal. Here's why ... the Mann Act involves transporting someone across state lines for the purpose of sex.

But, Diddy's team says they believe he's the only person ever convicted under this statute who did not make money off prostitution, did not have sex with an alleged prostitute and did not arrange the prostitute's transportation.

Alabama and Landon Barker will not be joining a reality show centered around celebrity kids that's currently in development -- despite online rumors ... TMZ has learned.

Representatives for the Barker siblings tell TMZ ... contrary to speculation, neither Alabama nor Landon has signed on for the Los Angeles-based project, which the production company hopes to shop to Bravo as a franchise spin-off to "Next Gen NYC."

Production sources tell us the siblings were approached to participate in the series, but they declined. We're also told rumors former Disney Channel star Skai Jackson is part of the developing cast are false -- she was not asked.

Our sources tell us those approached for the potential series include a host of second-generation celebrity offspring: Terry and Heather Dubrow's son Nick, Kyle Richards' daughters Alexia and Sophia Umansky, Larsa Pippen's son Preston, Camille Grammer's daughter Mason, Adrienne Maloof's sons, and "Dance Moms" alum Nia Sioux.

While nothing has been filmed or officially greenlit, we're told the project is still in early development. The show has not yet been pitched to Bravo, nor has the network picked it up ... despite early speculation, it's destined to become "Next Gen LA"

A man revealed to be a convicted child sex offender is causing outrage because he's got a baby boy at home ... and we've learned there was nothing to block him from bringing the child into his family under Pennsylvania law -- but now prosecutors say the best solution is changing the law through the legislature.

Here's the deal ... a Pennsylvania man named Brandon Keith Mitchell went viral this month over videos he shared on social media showing him and his husband kissing a baby boy and blowing out a candle every month through the child's first birthday.

The couple got ripped by some right-wing activists -- and then folks discovered Mitchell is a registered sex offender who was convicted of child sex abuse and possession of child pornography back in 2016.

Alec Baldwin's lawsuit against top officials in Santa Fe has been dismissed ... because there's simply been no movement in the case in months.

A New Mexico judge dismissed the case Tuesday ... claiming "no significant action has been taken in 180 or more days in connection to any and all pending claims."

Basically, it appears no one's filed any paperwork with the court in about six months -- around the time Baldwin originally filed the lawsuit -- and, now the filing's dismissed without prejudice.

Lil Jon is admitting one of his biggest club hits needed a lil' tinkering before it saw the light of day ... that "Get Low" song you dance to at every wedding almost came out as a techno track!

The King of Crunk was a recent guest on the "One Song" podcast with musicologists Diallo Riddle and Blake “Luxxury” Robin, where he revealed his 2003 collab with Ying Yang Twins was once titled "Let It Go" ... and played the never-before-heard OG version, which he's proud got left on the cutting room floor!!!

Jon also credited his longtime engineer, Ray Seay, for possessing the genius to bump Ying Yang's melodic mumbling at the top of the track, giving the track an instant spark of energy the moment it comes on.

Diddy's got a mountain of civil lawsuits to fight now that his criminal case is over, and he's getting started while he sits in a federal detention center ... and one of them is a suit involving his son Christian "King" Combs and a yacht party.

The Bad Boy founder is a codefendant in a civil suit accusing King of forcing himself on a woman on a yacht Diddy allegedly chartered.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy is arguing the case, filed in California, should be tossed because the court has no jurisdiction over him ... he says he's been a Florida resident for more than 5 years and points out he's been incarcerated in a Brooklyn jail since his September 2024 arrest.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won't be bringing part of Hulk Hogan's life to the big screen after all ... though the decision has nothing to do with his recent tragic passing.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the stars' production company, Artists Equity, isn't moving forward with the project, which hasn't been in development for some time.

We're told the decision was made a while ago -- long before Hulk's passing -- so, the two aren't related to it whatsoever.

The assault and battery charge against "Empire" star Bryshere Gray has been dismissed ... TMZ has learned.

The Chesapeake General District Court confirms Dustin "Chosen" Wilkins -- Bryshere's friend -- asked the court to dismiss the misdemeanor charge filed against the actor last month in Chesapeake, Virginia ... and the judge went ahead and did so Wednesday morning.

A rep for Bryshere says Chosen was motivated to drop the charge after the actor's sister, Brianna, intervened.

We reported it first -- Bryshere was put behind bars after his friend and collaborator filed a criminal complaint against Bryshere, claiming the actor physically attacked him at a Homewood Suites hotel. A warrant was issued for his arrest ... and Bryshere turned himself in on June 15.

Chris Brown's American leg of his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour kicks off today in Miami ... where a brand new lawsuit courtesy of Breezy Swimwear awaits him and Live Nation!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained court documents filed by Breezy Swimwear on Wednesday for alleged trademark infringement.

The Miami-based swimwear brand prides itself on being centered around "female empowerment" and claims it has been using the "Breezy" trademark since 2018 and developed the "Breezy Bowl" in 2023 to promote the brand.